Tuesday, October 4, 2011

In the time after The Black, human survivors of the Southern Claw Alliance clash with vampire legions of the Ebon Cities in a constant war for survival. Earth as we know it has been forever damaged by an arcane storm that fused our world with distant realms of madness and terror. Now, things that once existed only in our nightmares stalk the earth. And they are hungry…BLACK SCARS, Book 2 in the BLOOD SKIES series, is an apocalyptic military fantasy in which a Southern Claw warlock named Eric Cross has been dispatched to uncover the truth about a dangerous entity that threatens the human lands. One of Cross’ “allies” on this mission is the subject of today’s interview, a blonde warrior of dubious reputation named Mike Kane…

Steven: Hi, Mike!Kane: Uh….hi. This is weird.Steven: I know. Just roll with it. So, you’re one of the new characters in BLACK SCARS, right?Kane: I am?Steven: Trust me.Kane: You’re the author.Steven: Tell us about yourself. What do you do for a living?Kane: I’m a prisoner.Steven: And how’s that working out for you?Kane: It sucks. Especially if you’re a prisoner in Black Scar. It’s run by a bunch of mercenary ass-hats called the Revengers. They’ll lock anybody up if they’re paid enough, and they’ll let anyone go for the same reason. They pretty much suck. They treat the prisoners like dogfood. Steven: You mean “like dogs”?Kane: I meant what I said.Steven: So what are you doing in Black Scar?Kane: Oh, just partying.Steven:…Kane: What?Steven: I mean how did you get there?Kane: Ah. Well…that’s a long story.Steven: It’s an interview, dude.Kane: Ok. Well, my parents died during The Black. I was only a baby, and some lady found me and raised me for a while before she sold me to slave traders. I worked in the mines, but later I earned my freedom, and kind of meandered around doing odd jobs. After a while, I wound up being kidnapped by a criminal gang. That was…awesome.Steven: And that’s where you met Ekko?Kane: Hell yeah! She’s mine, keep your hands off.Steven: Thanks, I’m taken. Tell us about her.Kane: Ekko was the only member of the gang with any brains. She pretty much ran the show all by herself, but that wasn’t enough to keep the other idiots who worked for her from getting them all in trouble.Steven: Yeah, I understand that whole situation didn’t work out too well.Kane: Nope. We were captured by vampires and sent to the city of Krul. That suuuuuuuuucked.Steven: Elaborate.Kane: Suuuuuuuuucked a lot.Steven: …Kane: Ok, look…imagine being stuck in a tiny cell, pumped full of drugs, given weapons and then made to go fight in gladiator games for the amusement of a bunch of pasty-faced vampires. Sounds awesome, right? It isn’t.Steven: Both you and Ekko did this?Kane: Yep. She’s as tough as steel and a lot more beautiful. Steven: But you guys managed to escape…Kane: Yup.Steven: Can you tell us how you managed that?Kane: I’d rather not.Steven: Ok, fine. But you didn’t stay free for very long, did you?Kane: Rub it in, why don’t you? Steven: Sorry.Kane: Whatever. Yeah, after we escaped from Krul, we were free for all of a month before we were rounded by the Revengers. That’s how we wound up in Black Scar.Steven: But as BLACK SCARS opens…Kane: Huh?Steven: Uh…never mind…right now, you’re not at Black Scar, are you?Kane: No. I’m in a prison ship called the DREADNAUGHT, flying off to hell knows where. Wait a second…how are you even talking to me? Are you on the prison ship?Steven: That concludes today’s interview with Mike Kane. Mike…Kane: Wait a second, who are you? Am I on drugs again???!!!Steven: …and his criminal girlfriend, Ekko, can be found fighting against the vampires in BLACK SCARS, the sequel to BLOOD SKIES. BLACK SCARS is a dark military fantasy on sale October 8th!Kane: Wait!!!! What the hell just happened???!!!

About Steven: Steven Montano started writing at the age of 18 and never really stopped. A graduate with distinction from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Steven took his Creative Writing degree and became an accountant, instead. He still hasn’t figured out why.

Now, Steven writes the Blood Skies series. His wife runs a popular online yarn shop, and his kids just drive him crazy. They all live in a rain shelter in Washington State.

Visit Steven’s official website, bloodskies.com

Alisha: Okay. Can I just say how much I loved this character interview? Kick ass.

Winner of Steve's 2 book give away are Ciara and Stephen Knight! I drew names from all commenters who left comments the 3 days Steven was here. Steven, I have Mr. Knight's email address and know how to get in touch with Ciara too if they don' see this posting. Let me know. Congrats! :)

Don't forget to check out my charity book for children, Tennessee. 100% of proceeds go to gifting books to the Children of our Fallen Warriors at Snowball Express in December. Visit Tennessee's website at http://tennesseethetherapycat.weebly.com!